Lauren

Melissa,

She is a pretty girl. You have focused well on her eyes. She has good eye contact with the camera (viewer). The lighting is nicely soft and works well with this image. The background is out of focus enough so that attention goes to your subject. Her skin tone is good. the contrast and color saturation is good.

The color of the green background and her dress do not go well together. I am afraid her smile looks a little forced. It might be caused from the position she is in? 

Her pose is very awkward looking. It looks like you are shooting down on her and she is bending slightly forward at the waist and tilting her head up to look at the camera. Her shoulders appear a little drooped forward. This seems to be causing many wrinkles on her neck. It would be much better to shoot at eye level and have her improve her posture. Standing up straight with her shoulders back and chest out usually looks better than slouched. 

Do not pose your subject straight on to the camera. This is not a very feminine pose. Showing your subject’s widest areas (shoulder to shoulder or hip to hip) makes those areas appear wide. Your subject will appear thinner and more feminine, graceful and elegant if turned at an angle to the camera. The lines you see from an angle have more apparent motion, interest and grace. You usually do not want to have your subject turned 90 degrees to the camera. This can make the head look unsupported. It usually looks best to angle your subject somewhere around 45 degrees.

The advertising (MELISSA PAPAJ PHOTOGRAPH) is not part of the photograph. It distracts from your subject (to say nothing of band behind it). It would be quite proper to place your name below the photograph, on a mat. Advertising would be better placed on the back of the photograph.

Nice shot,

Mark